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Review
. 2017 Apr;19(4):508-518.
doi: 10.1007/s12094-016-1595-9. Epub 2016 Dec 22.

Medical oncology future plan of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology: challenges and future needs of the Spanish oncologists

F Rivera  1   2   3 , R Andres  4   5 , E Felip  6   5 , R Garcia-Campelo  7   8 , P Lianes  9   10 , A Llombart  11   10 , J M Piera  12   5 , J Puente  13   5 , C A Rodriguez  14   8 , R Vera  15   8 , J A Virizuela  16   8 , M Martin  17   8 , P Garrido  18   10
Affiliations
Review

Medical oncology future plan of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology: challenges and future needs of the Spanish oncologists

F Rivera et al. Clin Transl Oncol. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: The SEOM Future Plan is aimed at identifying the main challenges, trends and needs of the medical oncology speciality over the next years, including potential oncologist workforce shortages, and proposing recommendations to overcome them.

Methods: The estimations of the required medical oncologists workforce are based on an updated Medical Oncologist Register in Spain, Medical Oncology Departments activity data, dedication times and projected cancer incidence. Challenges, needs and future recommendations were drawn from an opinion survey and an advisory board.

Results: A shortage of 211 FTE medical oncologist specialists has been established. To maintain an optimal ratio of 158 new cases/FTE, medical oncology workforce should reach 1881 FTE by 2035.

Conclusions: Main recommendations to face the growing demand and complexity of oncology services include a yearly growth of 2.5% of medical oncologist's workforce until 2035, and development and application of more accurate quality indicators for cancer care and health outcomes measure.

Keywords: Future; Medical Oncology; Recommendations; SEOM; Spain; Workforce.

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Conflict of interest statement

Funding

This study was funded by Janssen. Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

Consent is not required for this type of study. This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution by age and gender of the Spanish medical oncologists (Register SEOM 2014)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Expected growth of workforce in baseline scenario and estimation of FTE needs to reach ratio of 158 new cases/FTE
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Perception of needs regarding the development of priority research lines and the establishment of innovations based on their value in Medical Oncology. Results from the online survey “present situation, challenges and future needs of MO” carried out in 176 Medical Oncologists. The number of valid surveys was 174. Rate of participants who selected each item among the most relevant 5 is represented. ICT information and communication technologies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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